Matthew Henry, a famous scholar, was once stopped by highway men and robbed of his purse, with

everything it contained. Years later, his diary was found and on that day he had written:

“Let me be thankful, first because I was never robbed before; second, because they took my purse,

they did not take my life; third because although they took my all, it was not much and fourth,

because it was I that was robbed, and not I who robbed.

Pumpkin Muffin Tops

1 c. cooked or canned pumpkin ½ cup quick oats

1 cup ww or spelt flour ½ tsp salt

2/3 cup sucanat ½ cup soymilk

1/3 cup olive oil 1 tsp cinnamon

¼ cup chopped nuts ¼ cup raisins

Mix wet ingredients together. Add the

dry ingredients. Spoon mixture into oiled muffin tins. Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes or until done.

Makes 18 muffin tops. For more recipes visit biblepathwayssupply.com

Quotable Quotes

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and

healthful bounties. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the

source from which they a come, others have been added which are of so

extraordinary of a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the

heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty

God…No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these

great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God…I do therefore invite

my fellow citizens… to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as

a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the

Heavens.—Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Proclamation

The Bible Banner

November 2013

BIBLE PICTURE PATHWAYS

We live an age where convenience is king. There are fast food restaurants, drive thru banking, frozen

dinners, along with automatic dishwashers and garage door openers.

And yet when you consider being a Christian, the convenient way is not always the right way. The

book of Acts tells us of Paul talking to Felix and his wife Drusilla. And as he reasoned of righteousness,

temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I

have a convenient season, I will call for thee. Acts 24:25

We further learn of Paul talking to King Agrippa. Again there is an almost,

and although not mentioned, I would guess the waiting for a more

convenient time. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest

me to be a Christian. Act 26:28

I am afraid for those who follow this same principle of what is convenient

at the time and also those that are almost Christians. Signs of the times

confirm that time is short. Paul tells us,

Romans 13:11,12,14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time

to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. …let us therefore cast

off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light…. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

It is high time to get all the evil out of our lives.

It is high time to get rid of the secret sins out of our hearts

and strive to mirror the character of Christ.

I love the way one author puts it.

God has spoken, and He means that man shall obey. He does not inquire if it is convenient for him to

do so. The Lord of life and glory did not consult His convenience or pleasure when He left His station of

high command to become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, accepting ignominy and death

in order to deliver man from the consequence of his disobedience. Jesus died, not to save man in his

sins, but from his sins. Man is to leave the error of his ways, to follow the example of Christ, to take up

his cross and follow Him, denying self, and obeying God at any cost. –{White CCh 269}

At the same time that we are thankful that Christ didn’t make his decision to save us or not based on

whether it was convenient, we should also keep in mind the brevity of this life. Approximately

153,000 die each day. That means for them, if they haven’t done it already, there will be no

convenient time to change their life and give their hearts to Jesus. There will be no time to fill in the

infinite gaps in the word almost. Almost saved is 100% lost.

Almost saved is

100% lost.

This is why the Bible teaches, “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of

salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2

We are not to pervert the word of God to suit our convenience, and worldly interests, but to honestly

inquire, "What wilt thou have me to do?" Does what we eat and drink glorify God? Does what we

wear and what we watch glorify God? Does everything we do glorify God? Whether therefore ye eat,

or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31 May God help us to take stock of

our lives NOW, today, before it is forever too late.

Kids Korner God’s Incredible Creatures

Do you know what this bug is? It is called a Dark

Jerusalem Cricket. We

found it in Washington

state. It is not a real

cricket, but it can make a

sound with its abdomen

on the ground that

sounds like a drum.

Cultivate Thankfulness - A Thanksgiving Eve vespers is a great way to begin, by

singing hymns of thanksgiving and reading thankful verses from the Bible. On

Thanksgiving Day our tradition is to go around the table and everyone gets to name

something for which they are thankful for every year of their life (Ex. If you are 30

you would have to name 30 things) For small children you may also create a Basketful of Blessings

with paper fruit and write the things you are thankful for on the fruit.

Patience said “Thank You”

when her mother gave her

an oatmeal cookie. She

made Jesus happy.

Jerusalem Crickets are nocturnal, which means they

come out at night. They eat roots and things that are

decaying or rotting, but they can also eat other insects.

Jerusalem crickets are not poisonous, but they can emit a

bad smell and their bite can be painful. They like to

burrow under the ground. It you look carefully you may

also find one of the incredible creatures that God made

for us to enjoy.

Passion didn’t say “Thank

You” when she was given

an oatmeal cookie. She

didn’t get one next time.

Illustrated by: D. Roberts age 8

There is a physiological truth—truth that we need to consider—in

the scripture, A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.

Proverbs 17:22. As a child, I remember hearing the story of Grandma

Brown’s headache medicine. Whenever Grandma became stressed and got a headache she

would start thinking and listing of all the things she was thankful for and “mysteriously” her

headache would disappear.

Gratitude and thanksgiving benefit the immune system. Researchers at the Stanford

University School of Medicine and the University of California at San Diego reported that such

positive attitudes as gratitude, optimism, perseverance, and absence of malice are linked to a

better chance of beating disease and higher survival

rates when disease does occur.

Proverbs 15:13 A [rejoicing] heart maketh a cheerful

countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is

broken. If we take the Bible at its word and give

thanks in everything, even when we don’t feel like it,

psychological research actually suggests that just

deciding to have a cheerful countenance can generate

amazing changes. Not just a “cheese” smile that only

effects the mouth, but a sincerely happy smile in

which the muscles around the eyes are deliberately flexed as well, generates the same

positive brain activity in the frontal cortex as

a spontaneously happy smile. We can

actually cheer ourselves up , as well as

cheering others by simply putting on a happy

face.

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my

soul? and why art thou disquieted within

me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise

him, who is the health of my countenance,

and my God.

For more health tips visit

swiftrunnerministries.com

If you haven’t much to be

thankful for, be

thankful for

something you

don’t have.

Let us thankful for all things be

Though there be woes and misery;

Lessons they bring us for our good-

Later ‘twill be understood.—Selected Based on Romans 8:28

(Studies quoted from Guilt-free Gourmet pg 266,268)

1. Why does Jesus say some who professed to worship him would not

enter into heaven? Matt. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth

the __________ of my Father which is in heaven.

2. What does Paul tell us is part of the will of God? 1 Thess. 5:18 In

every thing ________________: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerning you. Also Psalm 50:14

3. Psalm 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will

I shew the salvation of God. Name several ways in which we may glorify God by the giving of thanks.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in ________________, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving

thanks to God and the Father by him. 1 Thess. 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making

mention of you in our ___________; Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with ________, and

will magnify him with thanksgiving. Also Psalm 92:1, Neh. 12:46. Ps. 147:7

4. Which sacrifice was offered with leaven and how often are we supposed to offer it? Amos 4:5 And

offer a sacrifice of ____________________ with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for

this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. Also Lev. 7:13, Psalm 107:22 Hebrews 13:15

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God ________________, that is, the fruit of our lips

giving thanks to his name.

5. Name two things for which we are to give thanksgiving. Psalm 26:7 That I may publish with the voice

of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy________________ ________________. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But

thanks be to God, which giveth us the_________________ through our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Rev. 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,

and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation tells us that even in heaven we will

continue to give thanksgiving to God. Isn’t now a good time to start?

1-Will, 2-Give thanks, 3-Word or Deed, prayers, a song 4-thanksgiving , continually 5- wondrous works, victory

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29, 30

There is an old story told of a Russian officer taken captive by the French, during the time of Napoleon. The French got an iron and branded the officer on his hand with an “N.” When he asked what it meant, they said, “It means that you belong, body and soul, to Emperor Napoleon.” The solider seized an axe and cut his hand off at the wrist and said; “Take what belongs to you, I am for the Czar and belong to him.” While I do not believe in literally cutting your hand off, I think we can learn a spiritual lesson from this story. There are practices and things that have been branded with the mark of the prince of this world, who is the Devil. We should cut off, or refuse to be connected with those evil practices. We should pledge to be wholly for Christ, and belong only to him. Just as the amputating of his hand was painful, so the getting rid of our sinful practices will be painful. The more we have indulged in a sin, the more it has become part of us and part of our lifestyle, and the more painful it will be to quit.

People think this officer was extreme in what he did, and although I do not think it necessary to do that for an earthly power, I realize that people will think those who cut off from the world’s movies, fashions, games, foods, and lifestyles, will be classed as peculiar, odd, singular, straight-laced extremists. But God’s true followers will stand through the ridicule. They will remember the shame, and ridicule Christ bore for them. They will think of his cruel, agonizing, death. They will realize he did all that for them and they will think ridicule to small a price for them pay.

Will you be part of that company? Will you stand by the truth no matter the consequences? Will you cut off all worldly practices and sins, and say, “Take what belongs to you. I am for Jesus Christ, and belong to him.” Can you say that today?

JUST AS THE

AMPUTATING OF HIS

HAND WAS PAINFUL,

SO THE GETTING RID

OF OUR SINFUL

PRACTICES WILL BE

PAINFUL.

Amputation

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